8 Digital Transformation Trends in 2022

The digital transformation that several organizations underwent in 2020 carried on in 2021 at an exponential rate as the COVID pandemic continued to affect the world. So what does this mean for 2022? Will we continue to see the emergence of technologies that focus on data and customer experience, or will we see other technologies come to the forefront of the conversation? Only time will tell. However, here are our top 8 digital transformation trends for 2022.

1. Use of Microsoft‘s Modern Workplace Blueprint

With Microsoft’s modern workplace blueprint, organizations can easily deploy remote workforces that work just as productively outside the office as in the office. Security is more critical than ever with the proliferation of cybercrime. The modern workplace platform has a high level of security woven into the infrastructure to keep the company’s data safe and secure.

Apart from the significant productivity obtained from the ability to work seamlessly in or out of the office, companies can enable their employees to collaborate from anywhere using state-of-the-art communication platforms such as Microsoft Teams. Employees can work together in real-time, updating Excel spreadsheets, Word documents, and PowerPoint presentations in ways that weren’t possible before.

2. Cloud Only Adoption

Cloud-based solutions are becoming increasingly prominent due to their benefits, such as ease of use, cost savings, and scalability. Several organizations are shifting from conventional on-premise software to leveraging cloud-based solutions.

Organizations using digital technology require optimized data security. As technology improves, so do the threats coming from hackers. This calls for the improvement of data security measures.

Cloud-based solutions provide enhanced cybersecurity features that ensure that company data is secure. From 2022, the rapidly growing security threats will force businesses to make cloud-based tools their top priority.

3. The Adoption and Acceptance of Regular Recurring SaaS Fees

As many businesses adopted the use of Microsoft 365, they got accustomed to paying the monthly service fees. They came to see the value. As many more vendors move their applications to the cloud, end users are adopting a monthly subscription fee over outrightly buying the application and having to deal with the local support issues. This trend is expected to become more prominent in 2022.

4. Migration to Hybrid Work

The hybrid work environment will become one of the most popular digital transformation trends in 2022. They are growing rapidly, and workplaces are being transformed. The future of work is poised to be heavily connected, and employee expectations are increasing.

Organizations are adopting digitally connected experiences to increase their productivity and retain the best talent. The changes in workplace practices have necessitated that more organizations rely on hybrid or virtual connections between their teams.

Expectations from employees have changed, and the work-life balance has shifted to provide more room for them to do things that are not part of their job. As such, organizations will need to deliver digital-first connected experiences to retain employees and drive productivity.

5. Cybersecurity and Data Protection

In 2020, data protection will be at the forefront of digital transformation. The pandemic made cybersecurity more crucial given the increase in online transactions. Many companies have shifted to the hybrid work setup, and the need for better security in such companies has increased.

Security-by-default will become a must-have as organizations start to recognize that their applications need to be secure to gain the trust of customers. You can expect to see precedence placed on safety and transparency in the coming year.

6. 5G Everywhere—Faster Connectivity

5G is gaining prominence every other day. It is rapidly becoming the network of choice for forward-thinking businesses, largely because of its performance and reliability.

Whereas the distribution of 5G in the sub-6GHz bands is still on track worldwide, the more compounded 5G millimetre wave distributions have the prospect of growing significantly. This trend is already taking place, and it will only happen faster in 2022. Expect to see an increase in the rate at which 5G millimetre deployments take place in urban, densely populated areas.

That said, there’s more to the 5G network than faster download, streaming speed, and upload. This technology will enable other technologies to thrive. It also provides low latency, improves cellular technology, and facilitates dense deployments. With it, deploying cloud-based systems and the Internet of Things (IoT) into your work will be easier and more cost-friendly.

7. Hyperautomation

In this coming year, hyperautomation will combine Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to process information in more impactful ways, thereby increasing overall productivity and improving quality. It will also provide real-time, continuous intelligence with improved analytics to further enhance operations and processes.

8. Business Process Automation

Business process automation is an emerging digital trend that businesses must adopt in 2022. To stay ahead of the competition, small business owners should automate all areas of their business, including customer support, accounting, and marketing.

In 2022, automation will no longer be just for enterprise-level entities, more so with more accessible solutions emerging in the market all the time.

According to a Gartner report, 77% of businesses routinely use a combination of automation, application development, integration, and AI tools in their daily operations. Artificial intelligence will be able to automate tasks that are traditionally monotonous or high risk. This technology will be used in the supply chain, manufacturing, marketing research, etc. Many businesses already use automation, including Amazon’s Alexa service. ML technology can improve predictive analytics, thereby helping in business decision-making and forecasting.

Drive Digital Adoption Forward With Pure IT

Most companies began their digital transformation journey before 2021, but this year’s technological developments certainly transformed the course of numerous businesses. When you want to improve your digital transformation, Pure IT’s Managed IT services and Microsoft solutions can help.

With over 20 years of experience in providing cutting-edge Managed IT services for the Calgary area, we know how to handle any situation your company throws our way. We specialize in helping small and medium-sized businesses reach their specific goals by aligning them with unique technology for their business. Contact us today to learn more about our services.

Thanks to Holden Watne with GenerationIX in LA for this help with this article.